Transcribe long Arabic recordings to text, in the dialect spoken
Upload an Arabic audio or video file of up to 6 hours and get the full transcript in Arabic script, with timestamps and an English translation under every paragraph; switch the translation off if you only need Arabic. Up to 15 minutes is free in full. On a longer file the first part is free and the whole recording is $5, one payment.
- Arabic script, right to left; never Arabizi or Latin transliteration
- Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Iraqi and Maghrebi speech written as spoken, not rewritten into Fusha
- French or English inside Arabic speech kept in Latin letters
- English translation chosen in advance; pick another language or none
- Up to 6 hours per recording for $5, 12 hours with Unlimited
Real output from a demo recording. Click a timestamp to see where it sits in the audio.
Dialect or Fusha?
An Arabic recording is rarely pure Modern Standard Arabic. A khutba may be in Fusha, a family call in Egyptian or Syrian dialect, a business meeting in Gulf Arabic full of English terms. The tool is instructed to write each word as it is spoken, so dialect words stay dialect words in Arabic script instead of being swapped for their formal equivalents. That keeps quotes faithful; if you need a formal version of a passage, rewrite the lines you use.
Arabic is written the usual way, mostly without vowel marks. The tool does not ask for tashkeel, so it is not the right tool for checking a recitation letter by letter.
Maghrebi Arabic with French, and what is not covered
In Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian speech, French words and whole sentences come in the middle of Arabic. They are written in French, in Latin letters, between the Arabic parts. Tamazight (Berber) and Kurdish, including Sorani written in Arabic script, are not in the language list; passages in them may be marked [inaudible] or written inaccurately, so look at the free first part of such a recording before you pay.
Reading an Arabic transcript
- Each paragraph starts with a timestamp like [47:10] in Western digits, then the Arabic text
- Speaker changes start with an English label such as "Speaker 2:", which you can edit on screen
- The PDF sets every paragraph that begins in Arabic right to left
- The Word file is laid out left to right; switch the paragraph direction in Word for right-aligned text
- SRT and VTT downloads put the English line under the Arabic line, for bilingual subtitles
Long Arabic recordings people bring
- Lectures, dars and khutba recordings of one to three hours
- Interviews and focus groups for research, with English for a supervisor
- Recordings for a lawyer, court or tribunal where an English reader has to follow the Arabic
- Podcasts and talks saved as an audio or video file
How the tool works, what it costs and how your files are handled is on the Long Audio & Video to Text page; prices for every tool are on the pricing page.
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Questions and answers
Which Arabic dialects does it handle?
The spoken language setting is simply Arabic. Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Iraqi, Sudanese and Maghrebi speech are written as they are spoken, in Arabic script. Strong dialect and poor audio make mistakes more likely, which is why the first part is free to check.
Can I get the transcript in Arabizi or Latin letters?
No. Arabic speech is written in Arabic script. The English translation under each paragraph is there for readers who do not read Arabic.
Can I translate into French instead of English?
Yes. Change "Also translate" to French, or to any other language in the list, before you upload. You can also add a translation after the transcript is finished.
How long can the recording be?
Up to 6 hours and 2 GB for one payment of $5, 12 hours with Unlimited ($19 a week, cancel any time). A recording split into several files can go in one job; the files are put in name order.